Alps Electric Developed the TDQ Series of Digital Terrestrial TV Tuners, the Industry's Smallest; Single Unit Digital Terrestrial and Analog Broadcasting Receiver.

TOKYO -- Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (Pink Sheets:APELY) has developed the industry's smallest series of tuner units for digital terrestrial broadcasting. The newly developed TDQ Series can also be used as an analog broadcasting receiver. Sample shipments will commence from October 2005.

Digital terrestrial broadcasting began in Japan in December 2003 and continues to receive growing acceptance worldwide. The addition of digital broadcasting to conventional analog broadcasts has led to the coexistence of two different broadcasting methods. Given these circumstances, televisions and other devices require both digital and analog tuners to receive each broadcast.

Responding to this opportunity, Alps has developed a single digital terrestrial broadcasting unit, the industry's smallest, that can also be used as an analog broadcasting receiver. Currently, TVs and DVD recorders require separate digital terrestrial broadcasting and analog broadcasting tuners as well as an airwave distribution device in order to receive both digital and analog broadcasts. This requires significant space, an added inconvenience. Utilizing its proprietary engineering technology and expertise accumulated over many years, Alps has developed an ultra-compact single-unit tuner that can receive both digital terrestrial and analog broadcasts, which in turn contributes to more compact and thinner set devices.

Using an Inter Integrated Circuit bus controller allows set manufacturers to freely specify signal start levels, as output signal levels can be regulated with RF automatic gain control (AGC) even when input signal levels are changed. This enables the control of varying field intensities that occur according to regions, making it easy to adjust settings by regions. Furthermore, by utilizing custom IC, which is made possible through Alps' proprietary high-frequency circuit technology, wide dynamic range and low phase noise can be attained. Through wide dynamic range, a widely variable level of RF-AGC settings is possible. In addition, low phase noise enables the reception of crisp digital images even when electrical fields are weak.

Moreover, the environmentally-friendly design includes a power saving mode that lowers consumption of electricity, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Features

Alps developed the industry's smallest TV tuner units capable of receiving both digital and analog broadcasts on a single unit.

1. Industry's smallest TV tuner unit capable of receiving digital and analog broadcasts

2. Use of Inter Integrated Circuit bus controller enables changes to RF AGC start level

3. Wide dynamic range and low phase noise attained by use of custom IC

4. Power saving mode helps to conserve electricity

Principal Applications

For use in television sets equipped for digital terrestrial broadcasts, DVD recorders, VCRs and set-top boxes 

Planned Sales

    Sample shipments:       From October 2005

    Sample price:           5,250 yen

    Monthly production:     one million units (April 2006)

    Development:            Communication Devices Division, Soma Plant
                           (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

    Production:             Shanghai Alps Electronics Co., Ltd.
                           (Shanghai, China)

Specifications

Japan             Europe            U.S.A.
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  Product name          TDQN              TDQD              TDQU
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    Dimensions                  55.0mm x 38.0mm x 13.0mm
    (W x D x H)
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                   UHF: 470 to   UHF: 470 to 862MHz      UHF: 462 to
Input frequency     770MHz       VHF: 174 to 230MHz       864MHz
 range             VHF: 90 to    (U.K.: 470 to 862MHz)   VHF: 54 to
                    468MHz                                426MHz
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Input return loss                       10dB typ.
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Image rejection                         60dB typ.
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Output center      57.0MHz       36.1666MHz              44.0MHz
frequency
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IF band width      5.5MHz        6.7 / 7.6MHz            5.4MHz
                                 (U.K.: 7.6MHz)
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Phase noise                         - 90dBc / Hz typ.
(at 10kHz offset)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Noise figure                            7dB typ.
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Output impedance              150ohm                    200ohm
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For Further Information:

Mass media enquiries:

Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Public Relations Dept.

Rie Ando

1-7, Yukigaya-otsuka-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-8501, Japan

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]